Following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, the name Cozens was first found in Britina. It was a name for a person who was related to someone of note in the area. Further research showed the name was derived from the Old French, cusin, and the Old English, cousin, which means relative.

Cozens Early Origins

The surname Cozens was first found in Norfolk and in the southern counties of England, where the first on record appears to be Roger Cusin, listed in the Pipe Rolls in that county in 1166. Robert Cusyn and his wife Joan were landowners in Ellisfield, Hampshire during the Reign of Henry III (1216-1272). Peter Cusin was a sheriff of London in 1273. A Galfridus Cusyn of Hardingham, Norfolk is mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls for that county in 1327.

Cozens Spelling Variations

Cozens Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Cozens are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Cozens include Cousin, Cousins, Cozens, Cossins, Couzins, Cossens, Cosin, Cosyns, Cousens, Couzens, Cossins, Cosin and many more.

Cozens Early History

Cozens Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cozens research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1558, 1558, 1594, 1672, 1697 and 1743 are included under the topic Early Cozens History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cozens Early Notables (pre 1700)

Cozens Early Notables (pre 1700)

Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cozens Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cozens In Ireland

Cozens In Ireland

Some of the Cozens family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Cozens, or a variant listed above:

Cozens Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Dow Cozens, who landed in Virginia in 1648

Cozens Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Cozens, who landed in South Carolina in 1716

Cozens Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Bella Cozens, aged 28, who landed in America from Liverpool, in 1899

John Cozens, aged 28, who landed in America from Liverpool, in 1899

Cozens Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Alfred E. Cozens, aged 24, who settled in America from North Sheilds, in 1903

Jessie Cozens, aged 24, who settled in America from Glasgow, in 1904

David Cozens, aged 2, who emigrated to America from Bournemouth, England, in 1913

Florence Cozens, aged 23, who emigrated to the United States from Harrow, England, in 1921

Annie Cozens, aged 43, who emigrated to the United States from Harrow, England, in 1921

Shaw, William A. Knights of England A Complete Record from the Earliest Time to the Present Day of the Knights of all the Orders of Chivalry in England, Scotland, Ireland and Knights Bachelors 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing. Print. (ISBN 080630443X).

Skordas, Guest. Ed. The Early Settlers of Maryland an Index to Names or Immigrants Complied from Records of Land Patents 1633-1680 in the Hall of Records Annapolis, Maryland. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1968. Print.

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The Cozens Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Cozens Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.